Feeding mechanism for documents or the like



June 25, 1963 1.. e. SIMJIAN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DOCUMENTS OR THE LIKEFiled March 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

FIG.

INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SIMJIAN AGENT.

United States Patent F 3,095,192 FEEDING IVECHANISM FOR DOCUMENTS LutherG. Simjian, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Umversal Match Corporation,St. Louis, Mo., 2 corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 6, 1951, Ser. No.93,720 8 Claims. (Cl. 271-3) This invention relates to feedingmechanisms for documents and has particular reference to a feedingmechanism which is adapted to sequentially feed articles such as paperdocuments, checks, currency and the like as is required in depositorymachines.

In my copending application for US. Letters Patent entitled DepositoryMachine Combined With Image Recording Means, Serial No. 44,778, filedJuly 22, 1960, I have disclosed a depository device which is adapted tosequentially accept documents such as paper currency and checks andwherein each of the fed documents is photographed in order to providedocumentary evidence of the receipt thereof. Feeding of documents ofthis type presents various problems among which are the various sizes ofchecks, the curled condition of checks made from tabulating card stock,the resiliency of previously folded, bent or rolled paper currency, etc.Yet, for proper operation of the apparatus, it is essential that thedocuments fed into the depository apparatus arrive and be maintained atthe recording position in a substantially flat condition so as toachieve a documentary record which identifies the document in a good andsufiicient manner. Moreover, certain means must be employed in order toassure that the document inserted into the apparatus is not folded, assuch folding would obscure serial numbers and other pertinentinformation pertaining to an individual check or currency bill. Last,but not least, provision must be made to assure that a document manuallysupplied to the feeding mechanism is started in a prescribed way and isnot fed in a skewed manner.

One of the objects of this invention therefore, is the provision of anew and novel feeding mechanism for documents which overcomes several ofthe disadvantages and limitations of prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a feeding mechanismfor documents or the like which incorpoi-ate means to ascertain that thearticle to be fed is properly aligned with respect to the feedingmechanism before the mechanism is rendered operable.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a feeding mechanismwhich includes means to retain a fed article flat after it has been fedthrough feed rollers.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a feedingmechanism which incorporates means to prevent feeding of documents whoseleading edge is misaligned with respect to the feeding mechanism.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a feedingmechanism for documents or the like which assures that the article to befed by the mechanism is of a required width.

A still further object or" this invention is the provision of a novelfeeding mechanism for documents which echanism initially is providedwith a gap to permit manual insertion of a document to be fed and inwhich a set of rollers is actuated for automatically feeding thedocument therethrough after sensing means disposed in the gap haveascertained proper alignment of the document.

Further and still other objects of this invention will be apparent byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical View, partly in section, of the feeding mechanismalong lines 11 in FIGURE 3;

3,=95,lh2 Patented .iune 25, 1963 FIGURE 2 is a plan view, partly insection, along lines 2-2 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view along lines 33 in FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged elevational view along section lines 44 inFIGURE 2.

Referring now to the figures, reference numeral 11 identifies anelectric motor which is coupled to a onerevolution clutch 12 mounted toa bracket 13-. Associated with clutch 12 there is a solenoid actuatedrelease plunger 14 which when momentarily actuated permits onerevolution of the clutch output shaft. The combination of one-revolutionclutch and release mechanism is well understood, being a commercial unitfound in most power actuated business machines. Motor 11 via clutch 12is adapted to drive a belt and pulley combination 15 in order to impartrotation to an upper roller 16 which is journalled in stationary sideplates 17 and 15, both being supported by a bracket 19.

At spaced intervals the circumference of roller 16 is provided with aplurality of O-rings 21 which will engage the document to be fedunderneath roller 16. Rings 21 are commercially available annulargaskets made from resilient material. Underneath roller 16 there isdisposed an opposing roller 31 which with its shaft is likewisejournalled in side plates 17 and 18.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, upper roller 16 is equipped along a portion ofits surface with a flattened area, or depression 23, in order to providea small gap between both rollers when this depression is locatedopposite roller 31. At any other rotational position of roller 16, rings2-1 of the upper roller are in contact with the peripheral surface oflower roller 51. By virtue of the inherent resiliency of O-ring gaskets,rings 21 conform to the roller contour.

Additionally, roller 16 at certain increments along its length isprovided with milled, slot-type recesses 25 each of which houses a pinor bar 26 held in the respective recess 25 by a screw means 27, seeFIGURES 3 and 4. The array of bars 21: act as a movable gate whichprevents the manual passing of a document through the gap betweenrollers 1s and 31 while this gap is presented to the feeding table 28,FIGURES 1 and 4. In order to permit rotation of roller 16 with bars 26aflixed thereto, and since the protruding lengths of the bars exceed thediameter of roller 16, roller 32 is equipped with oppositely locatedannular grooves 3-2. It will be apparent therefore, that the bars 26 arelocated with respect to the rotational position of roller 16 in such amanner that the bars prevent the pushing of a document through the slot,yet the bars move from the gap position as soon as the rollers arerotated by virtue of motor 11 applying rotation to roller 16 at whichtime the gap disappears.

A set of sensing means coacts with the gap in order to ascertain that adocument inserted between the rollers is properly aligned, that is, itsleading edge being disposed substantially parallel to the 'axis ofrotation of the rollers. The sensing means comprise a set of snap-actingswitches 49 and 41, each switch having a respective actuating armreaching into the gap, see FIGURES 3 and 4. Suitable grooves 43 areprovided in roller 16 to obtain clearance for the actuating arms. Theswitches are mounted stationary, being fastened to table 28.

In order to obtain feeding of a document between the rollers, it isnecessary that bot-h switch arms be actuated, which action in turnestablishes that the leading edge of a document is properly aligned inthe gap and that the documents leading edge rests substantially parallelto the axis of the rollers. The spacing between switches 49 and 41determines the minimum width of the document which can be accepted andfed by the feeding mechanism as will be apparent from the followingdiscussion. Since the instant feeding mechanism is designed particularlyfor feeding paper currency and checks, it may be noted that Americanpaper currency has a width of somewhat more than six inches. Byadjusting the distance between both switches for a distance of let ussay, 4 /2 to 5 inches and instructing a depositor to feed the left edgeof the document in contact with bracket 18, both switches will beactuated only when the paper currency is substantially unfolded. Also,if currency or checks are fed in lengthwise direction, that is theleading edge being on the smaller side, the power driven feedingmechanism will not be actuated and manual passing of a document throughthe gap is prevented by virtue of the gate means.

In the rear of the feed rollers, see FIGURES 1 and 4, there are providedmeans for retaining the documents fed through the rollers in asubstantially flat position, thus ascertaining that the face of thedocument is exposed to image recording means 50. To this end there isprovided a plate 51 made of transparent material such as glass,Plexiglas, or Lucite. The plate is of substantially the same length asthe rollers. This plate at one edge is fastened by suitable screw meansto a rectangular bar 52. Bar 52 in turn, by suitable shaft extensions,is journalled in side plates 17 and 18. Roller 16 at its left end,FIGURES 1 and 2, carries a cam 53 which actuates a cam follower 54coupled to the shaft associated with bar 52. Additionally, there isprovided a pin 55, spring biasing means '56 and bracket 57. As roller 16rotates, cam 53 imparts synchronized motion to plate 51, causing thisplate cyclically to be raised and lowered. This motion is adjusted insuch a manner that for each revolution of the shaft the plate is raisedto permit a document 60, FIGURE 4, to assume the topmost position in thestack of previously fed documents, and immediately thereafter to belowered onto a face portion of the topmost document to maintain thisdocument substantially flat and with its entire surface exposed to imagerecording means 50 disposed thereabove. Plate 51 therefore goes throughan oscillating motion as rollers 16 and 17 rotate.

Operation of the entire feeding mechanism may be visualized as follows:Motor 11 is energized to drive clutch 12, yet no motion is transmittedinitially to roller 16. A depositor desiring to feed a document to thedepository 71 faces the feeding mechanism at the feeding position,generally identified by reference numeral 72 in FIGURES 1 and 4.

A document placed on table 28 is pushed forward in the direction ofarrow 73, FIGURE 1, and passed underneath horizontal guide bar 74 intothe gap between rollers 16 and 31. The document cannot be passed throughthe gap because of gate 26. If the document is of proper width and theleading edge actuates the respective arms of switches 40 and 41,solenoid actuated plunger 14 associated with the one-revolution clutchis operated, thereby causing roller 16 to be driven. Ensuing rotation ofroller 16 displaces the gap and O-r-ings 21 will engage the forwardportion of the document, thus squeezing the document between the rollersand consequently, imparting motion also to the lower roller 31. Whilethe document is fed between the rollers, transparent plate 51 is liftedas shown by the dashed position in FIGURE 1, hence permitting thedocument to reach depository 71 and causing it to come to rest on top ofthe stack of previously fed documents. As the document reaches itsposition on the stack, further motion of the rollers lowers plate 51which now may engage with its lower edge the surface of document 60 asshown in FIGURE 4. Subsequently, the document is photographed by camera50 and by virtue of the transparency of the plate, also portionsdisposed underneath the plate are clearly visible to the recordingmeans. Since the switch arms were restored to their original positionafter the trailing edge of the document left the rollers, solenoidactuated lever 14 is no longer retracted and clutch 12 will stoprotation of roller 16 when its original position is reached, that is, asthe flatportion 23 is disposed opposite roller 31, the starting'position illustrated in FIG- URE 4.

The diameter of roller 16 is selected in such a manner as to accommodateduring one revolution thereof, the feeding of a single document whichdoes not exceed 4 inches in length along its direction of travel. Thislength is adequate since it has been determined that paper currency,bank checks and traveler checks vary only from about 2 /2 to 3 inches.Recent standardizing efforts specify the maximum size very precisely. Inthe event that an attempt is made to feed an improper document, Le. adocument which is longer than 4 inches along the direction of travel,bars 26 when returning to their starting postion pierce the documentstill present between the rollers, thereby jamming the feeding mechanismand attracting the attention of an attendant. Alternatively, alarm meansmay be provided which are set off.

Several modifications can be accomplished without deviating from theprinciples described heretofore. One of such modifications comprises theuse of a roller having a resilient surface and a flat spot groundtherein instead of providing roller 16 with a set of gasket type annularrings.

Another modification concerns bars 26. Instead of bars 26 being fastenedto the upper roller 16, a barrier disposed behind the rollers may beused. This barrier would be raised as soon as the rollers are actuatedand lowered when roller 16 has completed one revolution.

Still further, the depression in roller 16 can be replaced by mountingthis roller for limited vertical motion. While the roller is raised, agap is presented and when the roller is lowered on roller 31 the gap iseliminated.

Other and still further modifications to the various mechanisms will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

While there have been described and illustrated specific embodiments ofthe invention, it will be obvious that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the field of the inventionwhich should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cyclically operated feeding mechanism for documents comprising:

an upper and a lower roller disposed substantially parallel to oneanother for feeding a document therebetween;

drive means coupled to at least one of said rollers for causing adocument supplied to the par-ting line between said rollers to be fedthrough the rollers;

a depository for receiving documents fed through vthe rollers disposedbehind said rollers at an elevation below the parting line between saidrollers whereby sequentially fed documents come to rest stacked on oneanother;

a retaining means adapted to engage a face portion of the topmostdocument on the depository to maintain the latter document insubstantially flat condition;

means mounting said retaining means for rocking motion about an axiswhich is disposed above said parting line and causing the retainingmeans to be inclined away from the rollers toward said depositorywhereby the lower end of said retaining means is adapted to engage thetopmost document;

fimther means coupled to at least one of said rollers and said retainingmeans for cyclically rocking said retaining means about said axis tofree said retaining means from engagement with the topmost document toenable a subsequent document fed through said rollers to assume thetopmost position onthe stack, and said further means returning theretaining means to its previous position for engaging a face portion ofsaid subsequent document after the latter document has assumed thetopmost position.

2. A cyclically operated feeding mechanism for documents as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said further means includes resilient means for urgingthe retaining means into contact with the topmost document disposed onthe depository.

3. A cyclically operated feeding mechanism for documents as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said retaining means is a plate of substantially thesame length as the axial length of the rollers.

4. A cyclically operated feeding mechanism for documents as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said retaining means is a plate of transparent material.

5. A cyclically operated feeding mechanism for documents comprising:

an upper and a lower roller disposed substantially parallel to oneanother for feeding a document therebetween;

drive means coupled to at least one of said rollers for causing adocument supplied to the parting line between said rollers to be fedthrough the rollers;

a depository for receiving documents fed through the rollers disposedbehind said rollers at an elevation below the parting line between saidrollers whereby sequentially fed documents come to rest stacked on saiddepository and on top of one another;

a transparent plate adapted to engage a face portion of the topmostdocument on the depository to maintain the latter document insubstantially fiat condition;

a bar mounted for supporting said plate disposed in proximity to saidrollers above said parting line and along an axis substantially parallelto said rollers;

said plate being fastened to said bar and inclined away from the rollerstoward said depository whereby the lower end of said retaining means isadapted to engage the topmost document;

drive means coupled to at least one of said rollers and said plate forcyclically rocking said plate about the axis of said bar to free saidplate from engagement with the topmost document to enable a subsequentdocument fed through said rollers to assume the topmost position on thestack,

and bias means acting upon said plate urging the plate to its previousposition for engaging a face portion of said subsequent document afterthe latter document has assumed the topmost position.

6. A cyclically operated feeding mechanism for documents each having aleading edge having a minimum first dimension and a side edge having amaximum second dimension, comprising:

a set of rotary elements to receive therebetween the leading edge of adocument and to feed the document therethrough;

first means coupled to said rotary elements having a first state whereinsaid first means obstructs the passage of the leading edge of thedocument between and beyond said rotary elements, a second state whereinsaid first means passes said document beyond said rotary elements, and athird state wherein said first means prevents the complete passagethrough said rotary elements of a document having a second dimensiongreater than the maximum; and

second means coupled to said rotary elements and said first means tosense a first condition of a fixed angular relationship between saidrotary elements and the leading edge of the document and to sense asecond condition of the presence of a leading edge first dimension atleast equal to the minimum; and

said second means upon sensing both said conditions concurrently causingsaid first means to sequentially change from its said first state to itssaid second and third states.

7. A cyclically operated feeding mechanism for documents each having aleading edge having a first dimension and a side edge having a seconddimension; comprising:

a set of rollers, each having an axis, to receive therebetween theleading edge of a document and to feed the document therethrough;

first means including a second dimension standard adapted to distinguishbetween documents having a second dimension which is less than a presetmaximum and those which are equal or greater than said preset maximum,said standard having a first position obstructing the passage of theleading edge of the document between and beyond said rollers, a secondposition passing said document beyond said rollers and a third positionpreventing the complete passage through said rollers of a documenthaving a second dimension which is equal or greater than said presetmaximum;

second means coupled to said first means and including a first dimensionstandard adapted to distinguish between documents having a firstdimension which is less than a preset minimum and those which are equalor greater than said preset minimum, and adapted to distinguish betweendocuments having a leading edge having a preset angular relationshipwith the axis of one of said rollers and those not having saidrelationship, and

said second means upon concurrently distinguishing a document firstdimension which is equal or greater than said preset minimum and apreset angular re lationship causing said first means dimension standardto move from its first to its second and third positions.

8. A cyclically operated feeding mechanism for documents each having aleading edge having a first dimension and a side edge having a seconddimension;

a pair of opposed feed rollers mounted for feeding a documenttherebetween in one revolution thereof;

one of said rollers provided with a longitudinal depression along itsperipheral surface to cause a gap between said rollers when saiddepression is adjacent the other roller whereby said gap is adapted toreceive the leading edge of a document which is to be fed through saidrollers;

a set of longitudinally spaced apart, transversely projecting barsfastened along the length of said one roller to block said gap forpreventing the passage of a document beyond said gap when said rollersare positioned for providing said gap, the diameter of said one rollerproviding said one roller with a circumference adapted to measure adocument side edge whereby documents having a second dimension less thansaid one roller circumference are passed fully through said rollers whensaid rollers undergo one revolution and documents having a seconddimension greater than said one roller circumference are pierced by saidbars and retained between said rollers;

a pair of electrical circuit switching means having actuators disposedin said gap and spaced longitudinally apart for being actuated by theleading edge of a document inserted in said gap and adapted to measurethe document leading edge whereby a document having a first dimensionequal or greater than the spacing of said actuators is adapted toconcurrently operate both actuators;

drive means controlled by said switching means connected to at least oneof said rollers for causing rctation of both rollers in response to bothof said actuators being in their actuated condition;

said rollers when driven by said drive means closing said gap andengaging an inserted document to cause it to be fed between the rollersand also causing said bars to be rotated with said one roller therebypresenting said document with an unobstructed path; and control meansconnected to said drive means for cyclically stopping rotation of saidrollers after one revolution thereof and restoration of said gap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSChandler July 16, 1912 Dick Feb. 10, 1914 8 Mahoney -Q Feb. 16,1926Swanson Feb. 15,1927 Hunziker Nov. 8, 1932 Hughey June '18, 1935 Addatteet a] Sept. 17, 1940 Yohn June 14, 1949 Davidson July 17, 1951 MartinJan.27, 1953

1. A CYCLICALLY OPERATED FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DOCUMENTS COMPRISING: ANUPPER AND A LOWER ROLLER DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHERFOR FEEDING A DOCUMENT THEREBETWEEN; DRIVE MEANS COUPLED TO AT LEAST ONEOF SAID ROLLERS FOR CAUSING A DOCUMENT SUPPLIED TO THE PARTING LINEBETWEEN SAID ROLLERS TO BE FED THROUGH THE ROLLERS; A DEPOSITORY FORRECEIVING DOCUMENTS FED THROUGH THE ROLLERS DISPOSED BEHIND SAID ROLLERSAT AN ELEVATION BELOW THE PARTING LINE BETWEEN SAID ROLLERS WHEREBYSEQUENTIALLY FED DOCUMENTS COME TO REST STACKED ON ONE ANOTHER; ARETAINING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A FACE PORTION OF THE TOPMOST DOCUMENTON THE DEPOSITORY TO MAINTAIN THE LATTER DOCUMENT IN SUBSTANTIALLY FLATCONDITION; MEANS MOUNTING SAID RETAINING MEANS FOR ROCKING MOTION ABOUTAN AXIS WHICH IS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID PARTING LINE AND CAUSING THERETAINING MEANS TO BE INCLINED AWAY FROM THE ROLLERS TOWARD SAIDDEPOSITORY WHEREBY THE LOWER END OF SAID RETAINING MEANS IS ADAPTED TOENGAGE THE TOPMOST DOCUMENT; FURTHER MEANS COUPLED TO AT LEAST ONE OFSAID ROLLERS AND SAID RETAINING MEANS FOR CYCLICALLY ROCKING SAIDRETAINING MEANS ABOUT SAID AXIS TO FREE SAID RETAINING MEANS FROMENGAGEMENT WITH THE TOPMOST DOCUMENT TO ENABLE A SUBSEQUENT DOCUMENT FEDTHROUGH SAID ROLLERS TO ASSUME THE TOPMOST POSITION ON THE STACK, ANDSAID FURTHER MEANS RETURNING THE RETAINING MEANS TO ITS PREVIOUSPOSITION FOR ENGAGING A FACE PORTION OF SAID SUBSEQUENT DOCUMENT AFTERTHE LATTER DOCUMENT HAS ASSUMED THE TOPMOST POSITION.